PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defended the police for setting up road blocks around the city in anticipation of a public demonstration, causing massive traffic jams Monday.

The Prime Minister instead blamed the traffic jams to those who planned to hold demonstrations and said the police were only doing their job in maintaining order and public safety.

“The police are trying to reduce hindrances and reduce traffic jams (that would be caused by the demonstration) too,” he said, adding that businesses and shops affected by demonstrations held inside the city expected the police to ensure disturbances were kept at bay.

“But at the same time the demonstrators say police have no business disturbing them. The police have a responsibility in ensuring there is no trouble and all is safe for the public,” he said.

Abdullah reminded the demonstrators that he had advised them to hold their rallies at stadiums where “they can scream at the top of their voice and “not at these places (in the streets) because people have the right to go about their business in peace

Bodoh National (BN) ask people go to stadium to demo. If it is in stadium, it won’t called demo; it’s called concert or game. Demo has to be in a public place; the audience has to be non-pre-planned participant who watch or support the demo notion.